Former U.S. national team coach Bora Milutinovic’s second game back at the helm of the Mexican national team resulted in one of his biggest defeats.
Yugoslavia beat Mexico 4-1 in Monterrey Nov. 15 as fans chanted “Campos, Campos” — an indication that Milutinovic’s quest to create a new-look Mexico is already under fire.
Jorge Campos, the popular, colorful goalkeeper, is one of many veterans Milutinovic has kept off his squad. He has not ruled out recalling Campos, but wanted to test different keepers.
But Milutinovic’s keepers — Nicolas Navarro and Felix Fernandez, who played a half each — looked bad on all four goals.
Mexico, which beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oct. 11 in Milutinovic’s first game, has had an impressive home record for the last decade. Milutinovic’s teams in general have not been prone to big defeats. His worst home loss with the U.S. was a 3-0 loss to Germany.
“When we win, we have a fiesta,” Mexico forward Luis Garcia said. “That doesn’t mean we have to have a soap opera when we lose.’
Garcia is one of the few veterans Milutinovic has retained since returning in August as coach of Mexico, which he guided from 1982 to 1986. He is now under pressure to recall players like Campos and Carlos Hermosillo.
“We need to look at young players,” Milutinovic said before the loss. “It’s important for the future. We want players with ambition. In July, I will decide if the young players have proven themselves. If not, then I need to call the players with experience.”
Milutinovic’s predecessor, Miguel Mejia Baron, lost his job after a miserable summer that included two loses to the U.S.
Milutinovic downplayed the result against Yugoslavia, saying it did not affect World Cup qualifying. But the 30,000 fans in Monterrey’s Tecnologio Stadium jeered Mexico and at times applauded the visitors.
After the loss, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, the new Guadalajara coach, criticized Milutinovic’s style as lacking dynamism: “Although you can’t judge a team by one game … Mexico’s style was far from modern.”
Mexico’s next match is against Colombia Nov. 29 in Los Angeles. The match appeared to be in trouble because the U.S. budget crisis had forced all U.S. foreign embassies to shut down. Fortunately, a deal was struck Nov. 19, allowing government workers to return to work and officials of the two teams to apply for visas to enter the United States.
by Soccer America senior editor Mike Woitalla
International Friendly
Nov. 15 in Monterrey
Mexico 1, Yugoslavia 4. Goals: Hernandez 33; Kovacevic 4, 10, Savicevic 30, Savelijic 48.
Mexico — Navarro (Fernandez), Higareda, Suarez, Vidrio (Ayala), Taboada, Gallaga (Ruiz), Lopez, Mora (Padilla), Garcia, Guzman (Jauregui), Hernandez.
Yugoslavia — Kocic (Milojevic), Djorovic, Stefanovic, Savelijic, Nadj, Govedarica, Saula, Kovacevic, Savicevic (Petrovic), Mihajlovic, Milosevic.
Att.: 30,000.